"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM: (HUELL) WELL, IT'S ELEVEN O'CLOCK SUNDAY MORNING, AND WE'RE STANDING OUTSIDE THE SPORTS ARENA HERE IN L.A.

A COUPLE OF THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE WAITING TO GO INSIDE.

OUR TOURER FOR THIS DAY'S EVENTS IS EASY ROMERO FROM "LOW-RIDER" MAGAZINE.

FILL US IN ON WHAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO EXPERIENCE TODAY.

TODAY IS THE L.A.

SUPERSHOW, THE BIGGEST SHOW OF THE YEAR.

IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR YOU IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN LOW-RIDING IN YOUR LIFE.

I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO VERY MUCH DETAIL.

I WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU GUYS SURPRISE YOURSELVES.

SO IT'S SOMETHING WE'LL REMEMBER?

EXACTLY.

IT'S GOTTA BE BIG, BECAUSE THERE MUST BE 10,000 PEOPLE STANDING OUT HERE WAITING TO GO INSIDE.

THIS IS A BIG EVENT EVERY YEAR?

YES, THIS IS THE EVENT THAT ALL THE EVENTS LEAD TO.

ALL THE CAR SHOWS THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE YEAR LEAD TO THE BIG SUPERSHOW.

THIS IS THE SUPERBOWL OF CAR SHOWS?

YES, EXACTLY.

AND YOU'VE GOT CARS HERE FROM -- FROM AS FAR DOWN SOUTH AS MEXICO.

WE HAVE CARS HERE FROM SACRAMENTO.

WE GET CARS FROM COLORADO, TEXAS, ALL THE SOUTHWEST STATES.

THAT'S GOOD, BUT MOST OF THESE CARS ARE L.A.

CARS, RIGHT?

YES, THEY ARE.

WELL, ENOUGH OF THE PRELIMINARIES.

IT'S TIME TO GO INSIDE AND SEE THIS BIG SURPRISE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE IMPRESSED?

YES, YOU ARE.

OKAY, WE'RE INSIDE NOW, AND WE ARE TAKING A LOOK -- (LAUGHING) -- AT SOMETHING THAT IS ABSOLUTELY -- WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT, EASY?

WE'RE LOOKING AT A COMPILATION OF VEHICLES THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER FROM THROUGHOUT THE STATES -- THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE NATION -- TO COMPOSE A CAR SHOW.

THIS IS THE CREAM OF THE CROP, THE BEST OF THE BEST.

THERE'S NOTHING ELSE THAT CAN COMPETE WITH THESE VEHICLES OUT HERE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT CARS, BUT I KNOW ENOUGH TO KNOW THESE ARE VERY SPECIAL CARS.

YES, THEY'RE EXTREMELY SPECIAL.

THESE ARE NOT REGULAR CARS YOU SEE OUT ON THE STREETS.

THESE ARE FULLY CUSTOMIZED CARS.

THEY HAVE GONE TO EXTREMES FROM GOLD DIPPING TO CHROME PLATING ENGINE BLOCKS.

SO FOR A CAR LOVER, COMING TO A SHOW LIKE THIS IS LIKE DYING AND GOING TO HEAVEN?

EXACTLY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A LOW-RIDER CAR BUFF.

ARE THESE ALL LOW-RIDERS?

YES, THEY ARE, SIR.

LOW-RIDERS IN THE SENSE THAT THEY ARE LOWERED CARS.

WE HAVE VINTAGE VEHICLES OUT HERE, AND THEY'RE STILL CONSIDERED LOW-RIDERS.

WE CAN GO DOWN AND GET CLOSER.

LET'S GET DOWN IN THERE AND SEE WHAT THIS IS LIKE.

WE'RE GOING DOWN FOR A CLOSER LOOK.

TELL US ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS A GREAT LOOKING CAR.

IT'S A '58 CHEVY IMPALA CONVERTIBLE.

IT'S AN ORIGINAL CALIFORNIA CAR.

IT'S A COLLECTOR'S CAR.

IT'S VERY RARE.

NOW YOU DON'T DRIVE THIS CAR -- THIS CAR IS NOT DAILY DRIVEN, BUT I DRIVE IT.

YOU DRIVE THIS CAR ON THE STREETS OF L.A.?

NO, I COME FROM AROUND THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA.

I COME FROM PITTSBURGH, CALIFORNIA.

WHAT'S THE REACTION WHEN PEOPLE SEE THIS CAR AND YOU RIDING AROUND IN IT?

THEY DON'T BELIEVE I'M DRIVING IT.

LOOK AT THIS CAR!

THAT'S A GREAT CAR.

YES, AND THEY WOULD MUCH RATHER MAKE IT AS ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE.

SO THE OLD ONES STAY THE WAY THEY WERE ORIGINALLY?

YES, AS CLOSE TO ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE.

ABOUT THE ONLY MODIFICATION DONE TO A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE, THEY MAY BE LOWERED SOME.

THIS IS THE OLDIES CAR CLUB OF SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.

THAT'S A '47 CHEVY.

THIS IS A '49 CHEVY.

I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THIS CAR.

A 1960 CHEVY IMPALA CONVERTIBLE.

THIS IS ANOTHER CAR THAT'S COMPLETELY STOCK.

IT'S RESTORED TO ORIGINALITY.

WE CAN GO FROM STOCK TO EXTREMELY RADICAL.

LOOK, HERE'S THE EXTREMELY RADICAL UP HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE CAN HEAR US 'CAUSE THE MUSIC IS LOUD.

THAT'S PART OF IT, TOO, ISN'T IT?

YES, "LOW-RIDER" MAGAZINE GOES TO THE TROUBLE AND THE EXPENSE TO PROVIDE MUSIC FOR EVERYBODY SO THEY CAN ENJOY THEMSELVES.

HERE'S THE CAR HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT'S SO RADICAL.

EXPLAIN TO US WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.

IT'S A 1964 CHEVROLET IMPALA.

THEY HAVE GONE TO THE EXTREME WITH THIS CAR.

THIS CAR IS OUR 1992 LOW-RIDER CAR OF THE YEAR.

WHAT WOULD MAKE THIS THE CAR OF THE YEAR?

ALL THE EXTREME MODIFICATIONS ON THE BODY, ALL THE CHROME AND GOLD, THE SUSPENSION SET-UP.

THIS IS ALL GOLD INSIDE HERE!

YES, IT'S ALL CHROMED AND GOLD.

THEY HAVE AN EXCELLENT INTERIOR, MODIFICATIONS TO THE TRUNK AND DOORS.

BASICALLY THE WHOLE CAR IS MODIFIED.

THIS CAR IS MODIFIED SO MUCH THAT EVEN THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR IS MODIFIED.

THIS CAR IS SITTING ON A TURNTABLE WITH MIRRORS SO THAT THEY CAN REFLECT THE WHOLE UNDERCARRIAGE.

SO THAT'S WHAT ALL THE MIRRORS ARE FOR, SO PEOPLE CAN SEE WHAT'S BEEN DONE UNDERNEATH THE CAR?

EXACTLY; THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS CAR LOW-RIDER OF THE YEAR.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE DETAIL THAT'S GONE INTO IT.

THERE'S A GOLD-PLATED MUFFLER DOWN THERE!

THE EXCEPTIONAL THING ABOUT THESE CARS IS IN ORDER FOR THESE RS TO COMPETE IN OUR SHOWS, THEY HAVE TO BE OPERABLE.

SO THIS CAR COULD GO OUT ON THE STREET AND DRIVE AROUND?

YES, IT CAN.

THESE CARS HAVE TO BE TURNED ON AND MOVED FORWARD AND BACK AND STOPPED ON THEIR OWN TO COMPETE IN OUR SHOWS.

LOOK AT THIS DASHBOARD -- IT'S ALL GOLD!

YEAH, 24-CARAT GOLD PLATING.

THE CARBURETION IS ALL IN GOLD.

ALL THE EXHAUST IS IN GOLD.

ALL OF THIS IS GOLD DOWN HERE?

24-CARAT GOLD PLATING.

IT'S JUST PLATED IN GOLD.

THE WHEELS, THAT'S GOLD?

THOSE ARE CUSTOM MADE.

WAIT A MINUTE!

EVEN HIS SPARE GAS TANK HAS A GOLD NOZZLE ON IT.

YEAH, EVERYTHING'S GOT TO BE IN GOLD.

AT FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A BASIC TRUCK, LIFTED WITH A LOT OF NOISE AND MUSIC, BUT THEN IT'S THE ART IN IT.

THE TRUCK IS TWISTED IN EVERY DIFFERENT POSITION, AND IT TAKES A LOT OF ART AND MIND WORK TO DO THAT.

SO IT REALLY IS A WORK OF ART?

IT IS, AND THIS IS MY SON.

HE WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE EXPLANATIONS.

YOUR MOM AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT YOUR PIECE OF ART, BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO TO IT NEXT?

ACTUALLY, THAT'S A HARD QUESTION.

IT'S A LOT OF JUST THINKING AND THINKING.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE UNTIL YOU DO IT; YOU'VE JUST GOT TO TRY.

IF IT LOOKS GOOD, THEN MORE POWER TO YOU.

IF NOT, TEAR IT DOWN AND START AGAIN.

HOW MUCH ELSE COULD YOU POSSIBLY DO TO THIS VEHICLE?

I MEAN, THIS THING IS CONFIGURED IN SUCH A WAY, I CAN'T IMAGINE YOU COULD ADD MORE TO IT.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I HAVE 30 MORE MODIFICATIONS I COULD DO.

AND LOOK AT THE INSIDE THERE!

NOW YOU DON'T DRIVE THIS AROUND?

NO, IT WAS DRIVEN IN HERE, BUT WE'D RATHER NOT.

IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO CLEAN.

THIS THING IN THE BACK, WHAT IS THAT CALLED?

A DOUBLE SCISSOR LIFT.

WOW!

I DON'T WANT TO BE RUDE, BUT HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU GOT IN THIS THING?

TOTAL AND COMPLETE WITH THE NEW DISPLAY AND EVERYTHING, IN THE PAST 7 YEARS WE'RE ROUGHLY AT ABOUT $175,000.

NOW THIS IS INTERESTING.

YOU'VE GOT BICYCLES HERE.

OVER THE YEARS IT'S JUST GROWN AND GROWN TO WHERE NOW THEY REALLY COME OUT.

WE'VE HAD TO EXTEND THE CLASSES.

ARE THESE CALLED LOW-RIDER BICYCLES?

EXACTLY.

THAT YELLOW ONE OVER THERE MIGHT BE CONSIDERED A STREET CUSTOM.

THIS RIGHT HERE WOULD BE LIKE A FULL CUSTOM.

THEN WE'VE GOT SOME RADICAL STUFF LIKE THAT ONE THERE.

BUT IT SHOWS THE BEAUTY AND THE ART.

IS THIS YOUR BIKE?

YEAH.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BIKE, BECAUSE THIS IS SPECTACULAR!

I'VE HAD IT FOR 3 YEARS.

IT TOOK ME ABOUT ONE YEAR TO GET IT LIKE THIS.

YOU DON'T RIDE THIS OUT ON THE STREET?

NO, IT'S SHOW MATERIAL.

SO THIS IS ALL GOLD RIGHT HERE?

YEAH.

AND YOU FIXED THE SEATS UP.

YOU'VE GOT -- LOOK OVER HERE.

YOU'VE PAINTED THE -- DID YOU DO THAT YOURSELF?

NO, DANNY GALVEZ PAINTED THE MURAL.

SO THERE'S A MURAL ON YOUR BIKE.

AND ALL OF THIS IS GOLD!

BOY, THAT IS SOMETHING!

YOU'VE GOT TO BE PROUD OF THAT.

YES, I AM.

DO YOU GO FROM THIS TO A CAR?

YEAH.

I'M PLANNING TO GET A CAR SOON, HOPEFULLY BY DECEMBER.

BUT YOU'LL KEEP THE BIKE?

YEAH, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY A SPECIAL THANKS TO MOM AND DAD AND MY SISTER BECAUSE THEY ALL SUPPORTED ME.

A LOT OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS SAID, "OH, YOU WON'T GET IT LIKE YOU WANT IT," AND MY MOM, DAD, AND SISTER WERE ALWAYS BEHIND ME: "YOU'LL GET IT DONE!"

SO I'D LIKE TO SAY A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY MOM, DAD, AND SISTER, AND TO GOD.

WELL, YOU GOT IT DONE.

IT LOOKS GOOD.

WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT?

THE GOLDEN AZTEC.

SO PEOPLE GIVE THEIR WORKS OF ART NAMES?

YEAH.

THE GOLDEN AZTEC.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BIKE.

LIKE 9 MONTHS AGO MY FRIEND SOLD ME THIS FRAME FOR 20 BUCKS.

I SAID, "I'LL TAKE IT!"

LITTLE BY LITTLE I DECIDED TO START BUYING PARTS.

I TRIED TO BUY AS MUCH ORIGINAL PARTS AS I COULD.

SO FAR I LIKE IT.

SO WHEN YOU GOT THIS THING -- IT WAS JUST A FRAME, NO BONDO OR NOTHING.

I DID IT MYSELF.

HOW DID YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO?

I REALLY DIDN'T.

THAT'S MY FIRST BONDO.

AFTER THIS ONE, I BONDOed 3 OR 4 OTHER BIKES.

WHAT IS THE WORD YOU'RE USING?

BONDO -- THAT'S LIKE THE CLAY THING TO PATCH CARS.

IT'S SOLID BONDO.

OH, ALL OF THIS?

THIS IS ALL SOLID AND THIS IS SOLID.

HAVE YOU NAMED YOURS?

YES, "WICKED MEMORIES."

HERE ARE 2 GUYS FROM SAN PEDRO WITH YOUR BICYCLE, WHICH IS THE MOST AMAZING BIKE I'VE EVER SEEN.

THAT IS VERY BEAUTIFUL!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COULD YOU SHOW OUR VIEWERS WHAT YOU WERE POINTING OUT TO ME IN THERE?

I PUT FISH.

THERE'S A FISH IN THERE!

FIVE FISH.

YOU PUT FIVE FISH IN THE SEAT OF YOUR BICYCLE.

WHY?

MY BROTHER THINKS A LOT.

YOU THOUGHT THIS UP?

YEAH.

THAT'S A VERY STRANGE THING TO DO.

THERE'S A LOT OF COMPETITION.

I TALKED TO MY BROTHER: "WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING."

YOU WERE DOING THIS TO BEAT OUT THE COMPETITION?

YEAH.

AND HERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S GOING TO BEAT 'EM OUT: AN HONEST-TO-GOODNESS LIVE SCORPION!

YEAH, I PAY $50.00 JUST FOR MY DISPLAY, SO THE PEOPLE WILL COME AND CHECK IT OUT.

SO THIS IS A GIMMICK TO GET PEOPLE TO LOOK AT YOUR BIKE?

YEAH, EXACTLY.

WELL, IT WORKED: FIVE FISH AND A SCORPION.

THE BIKE IS PRETTY ITSELF.

THANK YOU.

I'M STANDING HERE WITH TWO LADIES WHO SAID YOU WERE HERE DOING WHAT?

SHOWING OFF THE CARS.

HOW DO YOU SHOW OFF THE CARS?

GET 'EM ALL SHINY AND AS GOOD LOOKING AS THEY CAN BE.

NOW IS THIS A CAR CLUB, ALL OF THESE CARS?

YES, THIS IS STYLE CAR CLUB.

HOW ARE YOU ASSOCIATED WITH IT?

MY HUSBAND IS THE PRESIDENT.

DID YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT THESE CARS BEFORE YOU MARRIED HIM, OR DID THIS COME WITH THE MARRIAGE?

THIS CAME WITH THE MARRIAGE, YES.

SO WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SO FAR?

THEY'RE A LOT OF HARD WORK AND A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND YOU GET A LOT OF ENJOYMENT SHOWING THEM OFF TO PEOPLE.

HOW ARE YOU CONNECTED?

HER HUSBAND IS MY COUSIN.

SO IT'S A FAMILY THING.

OH, LOOK OVER HERE!

THIS IS MY HUSBAND'S.

SO YOU GO OUT RIDING AROUND IN THIS THING?

YES, HE JUST FINISHED IT FOR THIS SHOW.

HE GOES AND SHOWS IT OFF, AND PEOPLE LOVE TO TAKE PICTURES OF IT.

WE JUST REALLY ENJOY THAT -- WORKING SO HARD FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE PLEASURE.

WHERE IS HE NOW?

RIGHT OVER HERE.

HE GOES AROUND AND CHECKS OUT ALL HIS COMPETITION.

DOES HE SHOW MORE ATTENTION TO THE CAR OR TO YOU?

WELL, HE DOES SHOW A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND IT GIVES HIM A LOT OF ENJOYMENT, AND BECAUSE HE'S HAPPY, WE'RE ALL HAPPY.

BUT YOU'VE GOTTEN INTO THIS THING, I CAN TELL.

YEAH, I REALLY GET A KICK OUT OF ALL THE HARD WORK AND EVERYBODY ENJOYING IT.

YOU WATCH EVERYBODY STANDING AROUND, THEY REALLY ENJOY THIS.

THEY'VE BEEN TAKING A LOT OF PICTURES AND VIDEO.

THEY REALLY APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK.

DO YOU THINK THE AVERAGE PERSON -- I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE HERE BUT THE AVERAGE PERSON OUT ON THE STREET HAS ANY UNDERSTANDING OF HOW HARD IT IS TO DO THIS?

I THINK THEY APPRECIATE IT, TOO.

WHEN WE GO DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, IT CATCHES THEIR EYE.

THEY LOVE ALL THE CRUISERS AND LOW-RIDERS.

WELL, WE FOUND YOUR HUSBAND.

WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE YOU WERE, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO SHOW US SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE.

SURE, I'LL RAISE IT UP FOR YOU AND LAY IT BACK DOWN.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

THE HYDRAULICS -- IT'S A PUMP THAT ACTUATES THE CYLINDERS WITH FLUID.

THE BATTERIES RUN THE SYSTEM, AND WHEN YOU HIT A TOGGLE SWITCH, IT ACTIVATES THE PUMP WHICH PUTS FLUID INTO THE CYLINDERS WHICH RAISES THE CAR.

I'VE SEEN THIS ON TV; I'VE NEVER SEEN IT IN PERSON.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

HERE HE GOES!

OH, WOW!

CAN YOU DO THAT WHILE IT'S TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD?

YEAH.

DO IT AGAIN FOR US.

OH, MAN!

THAT'S GREAT!

YEAH, IT'S A LOT OF FUN TO PLAY WITH.

OH, THAT'S GREAT!

THAT'S A BIG KICK, PLAYING WITH THE HYDRAULICS, COMPETING WITH OTHER GUYS AND HYDRAULICS.

SHE'S A GOOD SPOKESPERSON.

I WAS WATCHING HER BEHIND YOU.

SHE REALLY HAS GOTTEN INTO THIS THING.

YEAH, SHE DID; I WAS PROUD WATCHING HER.

YOU DID GOOD.

I DID GOOD!

CAN I COME RIDING WITH YOU SOME TIME?

SURE!

THAT'S GOTTA BE A TRIP!

YEAH, IT IS, AND A LOT OF BOUNCING AROUND.

I'D LOVE TO DRIVE UP TO KCET WITH IT BOUNCING AROUND.

YOU COULD COME IN LIKE AN AIRPLANE AND KIND OF LAND.

THEY WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT HIT 'EM!

GIVE ME A CALL AND WE'LL TAKE YOU DOWN THERE.

YOU GOT A DATE!

THIS IS YOUR LITTLE BROTHER?

THIS HAS BEEN GREAT.

STAND OVER THERE BY THE CAR.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING INTO KCET IN ONE OF THESE DAYS SO Y'ALL BETTER GET READY.

NOW DID YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT THIS STUFF BEFORE BEING OVER HERE TODAY?

ABOUT CARS?

ABOUT THESE LOW-RIDER THINGS.

YEAH, I'M FROM CALIFORNIA.

I GREW UP AROUND CARS LIKE THIS.

GROWING UP, EVERYBODY WANTED A CAR LIKE THIS.

YOU KNOW WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA -- L.A.P.D.

SHOULD HAVE A COUPLE OF THOSE CARS ON HYDRAULICS.

PUT A ROLL-BAR OVER IT AND SOME HYDRAULICS ON IT.

SANTA BARBARA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ONE.

I WAS UP AT A SHOW ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

ON HYDRAULICS?

THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO IT, BUT IT HAD RIMS AND A CUSTOM PAINT JOB.

SEE, YOU'RE LETTING SANTA BARBARA BEAT YOU TO THE PUNCH.

IT MUST BE THAT CITY BUDGET, YOU KNOW.

WE GOTTA CATCH UP.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

THAT'S A GREAT CAR.

I MEAN ABOUT Y'ALL HAVING A CAR LIKE THAT.

WE NEED TO TALK TO CHIEF WILLIAMS.

THAT WOULD BE PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING.

EXACTLY!

I THINK SO, TOO.

WHOA!

WATCH YOURSELF.

IT JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

IT'S LIKE A TOY; YOU HAVE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY.

(LAUGHING) NOW YOU GO DOWN THE HIGHWAY LIKE THIS?

IT'S NOT EXACTLY LEGAL TO, BUT PEOPLE STILL DO IT.

HERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE NEW ILLUSIONS CAR CLUB.

THE SECOND TIME OUT.

HERE AT THIS SHOW?

AT THIS SHOW.

HOW MUCH PREPARATION DOES IT TAKE TO GET READY FOR THIS SHOW?

WEEKS, MONTHS EVEN.

WHAT KIND OF STUFF DO YOU HAVE TO DO?

POLISHING, DETAILING.

LOOK AT THIS.

WHO PUT THAT ON?

I DID ALL THE WORK ON THE CAR.

I PAINTED THE WHOLE CLUB'S.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE A CLUB LIKE THIS, DOES EVERYBODY HAVE A DIFFERENT TALENT AS FAR AS WHAT THEY BRING TO THE TABLE?

THEY DO, BUT THE WHOLE THING ABOUT HAVING A CLUB IS WHERE EVERYBODY UNITES AND HELPS EVERYBODY OUT.

THIS IS TRADITION FOR THE CHICANOS, THE LATINOS.

THIS IS OUR CULTURE, AND WE'RE PROUD OF IT.

THAT'S WHAT LOW-RIDING IS ALL ABOUT.

I'M EMBARRASSED TO SAY I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THIS BIG A DEAL.

IT'S NEVER GOTTEN TO THE FOREFRONT.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FROM THE '60s SMALL SCALE.

THANKS TO "LOW-RIDER" MAGAZINE, THEY'RE BRINGING IT UP INTO THE FOREFRONT, AND WE'RE KNOWN WORLDWIDE NOW.

IT'S IN JAPAN, EUROPE, SWEDEN.

IT'S LIKE THE GUYS FROM THE EAST COAST WITH THEIR MUSCLE CARS, THAT'S WHAT LOW-RIDERS ARE TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THIS IS PUTTING US ON THE MAP.

IT'S PUTTING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ON THE MAP.

BACK IN THE '70s, LOW-RIDERS HAD A BAD IMAGE.

GANG-BANGING WAS ASSOCIATED WITH LOW-RIDING.

IT'S NOT THE CASE ANYMORE.

MY BIGGEST OBSTACLE IS EDUCATING PEOPLE HOW BIG OUR LIFESTYLE IS.

THE LIFESTYLE I'M REFERRING TO IS THE LOW-RIDER MOVEMENT.

THAT'S BEEN PART OF OUR CHICANO COMMUNITY FOR DECADES NOW.

BUT NOW IT'S CROSSING OVER INTO DIFFERENT ETHNIC COMMUNITIES.

WHEN YOU SAY LIFESTYLE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

FOR A LOT OF CHICANOS, WE FEEL IT'S A WAY OF LIFE.

THE CAR PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN OUR SOCIAL INTERACTION.

WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN PREPARING OUR CARS AND TAKING THEM OUT.

WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME TO DEFINE LOW-RIDING, I COULD SUM IT UP IN ONE WORD -- PRIDE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT INDIVIDUAL FEELINGS IN THEIR VEHICLES.

THAT'S WHY EVERY VEHICLE IS WHAT I CALL ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.

THE VEHICLE IS THE CANVAS.

THE ARTIST IS THE CAR BUILDER.

HOW FAR CAN YOU TAKE THESE BEFORE YOU REACH THE LIMIT?

IS THERE A LIMIT?

THE ONLY LIMITATION IS YOUR IMAGINATION.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE BOTTOM LINE.

ONCE YOU GOT AN IMAGINATION, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING.

DO YOU GO OUT RIDING IN THIS THING VERY MUCH?

YES, EVERY DAY.

WHAT KIND OF REACTION DO YOU GET ON THE STREET?

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THUMPS UP; THEY LIKE IT.

WE GOT A LOT OF THAT FROM THE ELDERLIES.

IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD?

OH YEAH, THAT'S MY PRIDE AND JOY.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

IT COMES FROM INSIDE; THAT'S WHERE IT COMES FROM.

THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY -- IT COMES STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART.

SO THIS IS A LOT MORE THAN JUST A CAR?

YES, VERY MUCH SO.

♪ ALL MY FRIENDS ♪ ♪ HAVE A LOW-RIDER.

♪ ♪ THE LOW-RIDER ♪ ♪ IS A LITTLE HIGHER.

♪ ♪ (INSTRUMENTAL PORTION OF SONG CONTINUES) ♪ ♪ LOW-RIDER DRIVES A LITTLE SLOWER.

♪ ♪ LOW-RIDER IS A REAL GO-ER.

♪ ♪ HEY!

♪ ♪ LOW-RIDER KNOWS EVERY STREET, YEAH.

♪ ♪ LOW-RIDER IS THE ONE TO MEET THERE.

♪ ♪ LOW-RIDER DON'T USE NO GAS NOW.

♪ ♪ LOW-RIDER DON'T DRIVE TOO FAST.

♪ ♪ TAKE A LITTLE TRIP, TAKE A LITTLE TRIP, ♪ ♪ TAKE A LITTLE TRIP AND SEE.

♪ ♪ TAKE A LITTLE TRIP, TAKE A LITTLE TRIP, ♪ ♪ TAKE A LITTLE TRIP WITH ME.

♪ CAPTIONED BY THE LLOYD E. RIGLER & LAWRENCE E. DEUTSCH CAPTIONING CENTER AT KCET.

"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM: